New Year's Resolutions are getting a head start

I decided it was high time to get the boys to sleep in their own beds in their own rooms. Since Jude "lost" his paci 2 weeks ago, we have been driving or walking or rocking him to sleep. (Mostly Andrew, because he is a softie when it comes to crying). Our child who used to go to bed on his own (with his paci, of course) now couldn't fall asleep until midnight and then on top of that, he was waking up all night.

It's been an exhausting adventure.

\And then Maddox also has a huge sleep problem. Since he was 4-months-old, he's slept next to me. We read books, he touches my hair, and then he is out - at or before 7 pm every night. It was easy. No crying, no whining. But the bad part - he expected me to stay in there with him all night and I did (just to get sleep). 

Well, after going through all that screaming and sleep-deprivation with the paci, I figured why stop now? Let's fix these sleep issues once and for all!

So to help in the process, we took the boys to Build-a-Bear and let them pick out their special stuffed animal to sleep with them.

They were excited about their new "pets."

Maddox picked a rabbit and named him Spiderman; Jude picked a teddy bear and named him Baby.

Then we picked out a soundbox for them. They chose the "I love you" ones. 

The lady let Maddox step on the pedal to stuff the animals and then she put a red heart in each one.

 I kissed the hearts first and told the boys that was like Mommy's heart sleeping close to them every night. Maddox insisted I give his two kisses.

Before taking our pets home, the boys "washed" them and then we made them a birth certificate. Whoever came up with the idea of this store is a genius and most likely a very, very rich person.

Tonight is night #2 of our new bedtime routine. It has taken hours and lots of tears and pleas, but the boys are finally falling asleep in their beds with their stuffed animals tucked in next to them.

The saddest yet funniest moment came when Maddox told me how much he loved me and he loved me to sleep next to him. I told him to pray to Jesus and He would make him feel better and bring him all the comfort he needed.

Seconds later from the bedroom, I hear, "JESUS! JESUS! JEEEEEESUS!"

I sure do love my little guys, and truth be told, it's just as hard on me as it is for Maddox. I love snuggling that sweet boy every night. 

But some changes must happen, and are good in the long run...even if we fight them every step of the way. 

Growing up never gets easier.